Regarding Outlander’s “Both Sides Now”, here are the highlights:
Claire and Frank at Craigh Na Dun: This scene is a TV show addition. In the books, the reader is only familiar with what Claire is experiencing. For non-readers, like my husband, this was such a great scene (he considered it to be the best scene of the episode). The same is not applicable to most book readers, even though I did like it. Of course, opinions here are divided. My husband would have loved Claire to go back to the 20th century. I guess some non-readers prefer Frank over Jamie now. What I liked about this scene is the editing and the music. The scene flips back and forth between the past and the future, and the combination of two different filming scenes was flawless. The actors also excelled in this scene because it was emotionally intense. The music was beautiful, and it was the same theme that was played in the first episode when the “witches” were performing the ritualistic “dance” at Craigh Na Dun.
TV Frank: Most book readers find Frank to be a “boring” character. Of course, his ancestor, Black Jack, is a more interesting character, at least from an actor’s perspective. The TV show has opted to give more character development to Frank to emphasize Claire’s internal conflict. Frank is more likely to be a desirable type in the 20th century and even more in the 21st century. He is the bookish type, and some women may find that particular type smart and interesting (I guess subsequent seasons will portray that). Some reviewers have noticed a certain parallel between Frank and his ancestor, Black Jack. I think there is some connection, and probably the TV show is trying to establish some similarities between the two, especially by casting the same actor to play both characters. However, there are also some differences: I always thought that Jack Black was a coward taking advantage of victims that were not able to defend themselves or of his authority to perform his deviant, malicious acts, and I really do not see Frank being like that at this stage. He is way too much nicer than his ancestor (so far). The following review discusses slightly the parallels between Jack Black and Frank:
TV Jamie: I feel that Jamie has had less character development in the show than Frank. This is based on my assessment about my husband’s perception about both characters. Yesterday I asked a non-reader of the books about her preference too, and she preferred Jamie. Book readers prefer Jamie over Frank because he has more character development in the books, and also because they have more information concerning Claire’s married life with both men.
The viewer learns more about Jamie in “The Wedding” episode; he is honourable, nicely mannered, very handsome and dutiful. He strives to do things properly too. He takes his marriage vows seriously which also makes him protective of his wife (be careful Black Jack!). Jamie is a warrior type, a desirable characteristic back in the 18th century. He is a great swordsman, and knows how to fight using his fists too. At the end of the episode, he takes a big risk in rescuing his wife.
This reviewer discusses a little bit about the relationship between Jamie and Claire in this episode.
Review of Outlander Episode 108 “Both Sides Now”
I do agree with her that the TV show is making their initial relationship a little bit different than from the books. So far, it seems that she does not have real feelings for Jamie yet (unless it is lust?). Is Jamie horny (he is attracted to book Claire’s curvy bum since their first encounter)? I always thought he was a little bit horny at the beginning due to his youth and lack of sexual experience. I liked how the reviewer discusses Claire’s guilt in avoiding looking at Jamie’s ring. I guess the TV show is going to emphasize Claire’s feelings for Jamie after certain events. He is going to show her that he is worth having him as a husband. It think this deviation in the TV show is associated to the addition of the scene in which Claire almost goes back to the 20th century to reunite with Frank. It adds more emotion to the scene. In the books, Frank is less present in Claire’s thoughts than in the TV show when she is getting married to Jamie and even afterwards. At least, that is how I perceived it when reading the first book.
I think it is time to note also some similarities and differences between Jamie and Frank. These similarities / differences do not have to be exact since they are different people. I will be modifying them or even adding new ones as the TV show progresses. My idea here is to establish how divergent or similar Claire’s husbands could be based on their actions.
- So far they both care about Claire. However, it will be fun in the long run to determine who genuinely cares about her.
- They both raise children that are not their own (sorry for the spoiler). I will comment more about this once the second season starts (in two years from now?).
- They are both good fighters. It seems that Frank knows how to punch pretty well.
The second point will be very interesting to explore as the TV show moves forward. I feel that the following opinions from Frank concerning adoption might be transferred as a flashback in the TV show.
“No, Clair. Really, I’d like to, but I’ve told you how I feel about adoption. It’s just …. I couldn’t feel properly toward a child that’s not …..well, not of my blood. No doubt that’s ridiculous and selfish of me, but there it is. Maybe I’ll change my mind in time, but now…..” (“Outlander” 26).
“I want our child. You’re the most important thing in the world to me. I want you to be happy, above all else, but I want …..well, I want to keep you to myself. I’m afraid a child from outside, one we had no real relationship with, would seem an intruder, and I’d resent it. But to be able to give you a child, see it grow in you, see it born ….then I’d feel as though it were more an ….. extension of you, perhaps. And me. A real part of the family.”His eyes were wide, pleading (“Outlander” 26).
I noticed some similarities in how they read Claire recently while reading the third book, Voyager.
Claire, his own Claire – who knew what had sent her to him, had thrust her into a life she had surely not been born to? And yet she had known what to do, what she was meant to be, despite that. Not everyone was so fortunate as to know their gift. (188)
“You’ve known forever who you are. Do you realize at all how unusual it is to know that?” (105)
“I haven’t got that,” he said quietly at last. “I’m good, all right. At what I do-the teaching, the writing. Bloody splendid sometimes, in fact. And I like it a good bit, enjoy what I do. But the thing is-” He hesitated, then look at me straight on, hazel-eyed and earnest. “I could do something else, and be as good. Care as much, or as little. I haven’t got that absolute conviction that there’s something in life I’m meant to do – and you have.” (106)
He had been born a leader, then bent and shaped further to fit such a destiny. But what of a man who had not been born to the role he was required to fill? John Grey, for one. Charles Stuart for another. (189)
Minor characters: I wanted Roger Wakefield, Rev. Wakefield’s adopted son, to make an appearance in the first episode. However, the viewer caught a glimpse of him in this episode. I will not discuss more about him in the meantime. However, he will become a prominent character later on. Another minor character is Hugh Munro. I liked how the actor portrayed him and the present he gave Claire, an amber fossil of a dragonfly. In the books, I remember he also gave Claire a rodent too, not as a present though.